How your identity affects your food preferences

  Growing up in a rural area of the northern US that was populated mostly by German and Scandinavian immigrants, I ate a lot of food that some folks would find, shall we say, uninspiring. Even though much of it was on the bland side, I still fondly recall many of the dishes like knephla soup, kraut strudel, and cold… read more

On the processed food debate

  We're told that for our health (and our waistline), we should avoid processed foods at all costs. Despite the dire warnings, many of us - even though we can understand the health implications and don't have any obstacles that stand in the way of healthy cooking - choose to eat packaged foods anyway. The reasons for this are complex,… read more

Pioneering author Barbara Kafka has died

We learned the sad news today of another passing of a culinary icon, this time pioneering author Barbara Kafka. Kafka was an internationally respected food writer and teacher, whose work was featured in a variety of publications like The New York Times, Gourmet, Family Circle, and Vogue, as well as to other food magazines in the United States, Australia and Great… read more

New Orleans restaurant legend Ella Brennan dies at age 92

The New Orleans restaurant community lost one of its icons today, as Ella Brennan passed away at the age of 92. Brennan, along with her brother Dick, are part of a family dynasty that started with Brennan's Restaurant and expanded to include over 14 different restaurants in New Orleans and beyond.  Brennan is best known for the revitalization of the… read more

Saving the scraps

  Marcella Hazan's three-ingredient tomato sauce is, simply put, brilliant. So easy to make but boasting deep, complex flavors, it's no wonder the recipe has been printed dozens of time in various newspapers, on blogs, and in multiple cookbooks. When you read the instructions on how to prepare the dish, one of the last steps is to discard the onion. That's… read more

Looking to the past for new ice cream flavors

  Ice cream is a treat enjoyed all over the world. Once reserved for only the wealthy, today it is available to people from all walks of life. While stalwart flavors like vanilla and chocolate are the most-often consumed, new taste creations draw the interest of aficionados. While many ice cream innovators look to other cultures or to the savory… read more

Ferran Adrià to reopen elBulli as a research lab

Just a few days ago we reported on Ferran Adrià's upcoming new restaurant in Italy, but that's not all the celebrated chef has been working on lately. The chef and restaurateur, who earned three Michelin stars and topped the Worlds' 50 Best Restaurants list five times with his groundbreaking restaurant elBulli, is planning to reopen the site as a research lab.… read more

Chef Peter Gilmore’s favorite cookbook

  The number of chefs turned cookbook authors continues to grow, allowing those of us who cannot visit their famed restaurants to get a glimpse of the foods on offer, and providing us with new ideas and techniques to liven up our own cooking. Even the world's top chefs were beginners once, and finding out which cookbooks they studied early… read more

Ready, set, grill

  Here in the US, the national holiday called Memorial Day honors those who have fallen in the line of service to our country. Unofficially, the long weekend marks the start of summer and kicks off peak grilling season, especially for those in more northern latitudes who have had a late start to their spring. Although tradition dictates that steaks… read more

Elderflower-lemon is the combination of the moment

  Ever since the flavors for the royal wedding cake (baked by Claire Ptak) were announced, social media posts have been buzzing about the combination of elderflower and lemon. Bakeries across the US quickly jumped on the bandwagon, and hundreds of posts on Instagram were tagged with #lemonelderflowercake or #lemonelderflower. Elderflower has never become as popular in the US as… read more

The world’s largest cookbook collection

Longtime Members of EYB may recall our interview in mid-2013 of EYB Member Sue Jimenez, who was at the time attempting to claim the world record for largest cookbook collection. In July 2013 she got the record, with an official tally of 2,970 (which shot up to 3,693 by that November). Sue remains the Guinness World Record holder for largest cookbook… read more

ABC cancels The Chew

ABC's daytime talk show hosted by celebrity chefs and centered around food, The Chew, is on the chopping block. The network announced that the program, which has faced falling ratings, will end this September. A representative for ABC described the cancellation as a "business decision." The Emmy Award-winning program, which has 'Food. Life. Fun." as its motto, is currently hosted by… read more

Mario Batali under criminal investigation

  Yesterday, a segment on the television news program 60 Minutes reported on the Mario Batali and Ken Friedman sexual harassment and abuse allegations. Parts of the show rehashed previously reported claims, but viewers also heard new information and allegations. The new accusations were chilling, and the New York Police Department confirmed to CBS News that Batali was the subject… read more

The produce paradox

After a particularly long and harsh winter, spring is bursting onto the scene in the northern part of the US. Along with the rapid greening and pleasant temperatures, produce is beginning to pop up at farmers' markets across the northland. However, I've noticed a paradox concerning the bounty of luscious vegetables and fruits: a scarcity of available time to properly… read more

Ferran Adrià goes back to school for his new restaurant

Ferran Adrià  is one of the most accomplished chefs in the world. Aspiring chefs study his cookbooks and vied for coveted stage positions, hoping to learn from one of the best in the industry. However, before he opened his new restaurant called Condividere, in Turin, Italy, Adrià felt it necessary to go back to school.  Condividere (which means 'to share' in Italian)  is located… read more

Pastry chefs choose the best baking cookbooks

  I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for lists - especially lists about cookbooks. That's why I honed in on The Strategist's article about the best baking books as selected by pastry chefs. Nine top U.S. pastry chefs and professional bakers were asked to give their opinions on which books were the best in several categories. Some… read more

What’s going to be served at the royal wedding?

  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming nuptials are groundbreaking for many reasons, now including the food to be served as well. We previously reported on how the royal couple chose a non-traditional wedding cake to be baked by Claire Ptak. Now we're learning a few details about the food that will be served on Saturday, which also bucks tradition. … read more

Are you a procrastibaker?

  When faced with a task or chore that you need to do but don't really want to tackle just now, what do you do? If you are like a growing number of people, you turn to the kitchen to whip up a batch of cookies, a loaf of bread, or a pan of brownies. Baking to avoid doing other… read more

Edward Lee’s unlikely journey

Edward Lee is a multiple James Beard award nominee, chef/owner of several restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, and has been on both "Top Chef" and "The Mind of a Chef." His first cookbook, Smoke & Pickles: Recipes and Stories from a New Southern Kitchen, was an EYB Pick and has received a four star rating from EYB Members. Lee has just released… read more

Sous vide’s surprising history

  When you think of sous vide cooking, you probably conjure images of fine-dining restaurants and cookbooks like Modernist Cuisine and Under Pressure. Although the world's top chefs have embraced the technique, sous vide cooking goes back much further than the recent interest. Most people credit two French chefs - Bruno Goussault and George Pralus - with developing and refining the… read more

Dorie Greenspan’s advice to new cooks

While we patiently wait for Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook to arrive (Everyday Dorie, coming this October), we can get more of her sage advice from indexed blog Food52. Dorie recently provided the site with her top eight tips for novice cooks, and while they may be aimed at beginners, even confident home cooks will find them useful.  Among the wise… read more

See stunning cakes at Brisbane’s International Cake Show

If you are binge-watch shows like 'Cake Boss' or 'Cake Wars', or even if you are just a fan of cake in general and you live in or near Queensland, clear your calendar for next weekend, 18-20 May. Those are the dates for the 2018 International Cake Show Australia, held in Brisbane.  Event organizers describe the show as "the Top Gun… read more

When recipes lie

  A seasoned cook can generally judge a recipe by a quick glance through the instructions. Novice cooks are at the mercy of the recipe writer, however, and this can pose problems, says food writer Debora Robertson. She assures readers that when a dish turns out badly, it's not necessarily their fault (free registration required for full article). Robertson looks… read more

Ina Garten is planning an author tour

Ina Garten fans who were excited with she announced that a new cookbook, Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks, was in the works, will be thrilled with today's news. The Barefoot Contessa is headed out on a major author tour to promote the book. In addition to the usual book signing events, Garten will be doing sit down… read more

2018 James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards

  Yesterday, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its Chef and Restaurant Awards in a ceremony emceed by Carla Hall at Lyric Opera of Chicago.  The theme for the 2018 awards was "Rise," celebrating the collective spirit of the culinary community and the power of food. Attendees and participants donned pins stating what they rise for, from "equality"… read more
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